Minnesota Vikings

THE NFL

September 25, 1992

QUARTERBACK RICH Gannon, who suffered a chipped bone in his passing hand last weekend, appears ready to play Sunday against Cincinnati. Gannon couldn't grip the ball the day after he suffered the injury in the Vikings' 26-20 victory against Tampa Bay. But he tested his right hand for the first time Wednesday and had little difficulty throwing or taking snaps from center.

LOS ANGELES RAIDERS

THE RAIDERS, deciding they needed help on special teams, re-signed Napoleon McCallum. McCallum, 29, a 1986 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, had been released by the Raiders on the cut to 47 on Aug. 31. He was out of football for the first three weeks of the season. McCallum, a reserve fullback, was brought back to the Raiders to return punts and kickoffs and also work on other special teams.

The Raiders' primary punt return man, wide receiver Tim Brown, is limping on a pulled left hamstring and is listed as doubtful for Monday night's game at Kansas City. ''I'll return punts and probably kickoffs,'' McCallum said. ''It's nice that I'll get a chance to touch the ball. Coming back has definitely revitalized me.''

To make room, the Raiders released linebacker Thomas Benson, a former starter. He was re-signed a week earlier because of a lack of depth at linebacker.

COURTS

FORMER PRACTICE players who filed suit against the NFL said they performed the same tasks as active players whose wages were five and 10 times as high. The players were among 235 members of developmental, or practice, squads during the 1989 season who are seeking about $10 million in damages from the 28 NFL teams. The trial, in Washington, was in its fourth day.